After exchanging Paris for Bordeaux at age 18, Benoit studied in an agricultural direction and concluded these studies with a year of oenology. And so his appetite for wine, and more particularly wine science, was developed. During a six-month internship at a cooperative cellar in the southwest of France, he experienced an epiphany upon realising that he wanted to gain an even deeper knowledge of wine and that research would be the answer.
A research MSc followed suit and then a PhD degree, both in oenology. After completion of his PhD degree in 2004, Benoit set his sights abroad and joined the DVO in 2005 where he kicked off with a postdoctoral fellowship that lasted until 2007. From 2007 to 2013 Benoit acted as a researcher after which he added teaching to his portfolio. He particularly enjoyed his role as senior lecturer and still teaches in his current role as head of department (HOD) of the DVO. Benoit was elected head of department in 2017 and was later promoted to associate professor, which runs in parallel to his HOD duties.
Benoit’s research focus is on wine microbiology and more specifically on non-Saccharomyces yeasts. Of particular interest to him is the role that yeast nutrients (nitrogen, lipids and vitamins) and enzymes (proteases, pectinases, etc.) play during winemaking. In the past he has also done extensive research on Brettanomyces, a wine spoilage yeast, and as a result the DVO now hosts an annual Brettanomyces short course for the SA wine industry. As a lecturer Benoit teaches wine microbiology and yeast biochemistry.
With reference to him being elected head of department and his associate professorship Benoit says that he is proud, and even amazed, at how rapidly his career progressed. But his biggest achievements are his whole body of research work and the privilege of training undergraduate as well as post-graduate students. The interaction he has with students contributes vastly to his love for his job, in addition to knowledge transfer, research and science. An excerpt from a heartfelt acknowledgement in a former student’s thesis reveals how Benoit’s passion influences others: “So a tremendous thank you is needed, for a supervisor that will always go the extra mile and endeavours to always ensure his students achieve and surpass their goals.”
But science is also valuable if it can be applied, insists Benoit. “For me it is very important to reconcile good science with the applied aspect thereof”, he says. “Knowledge transfer is part of the process and I am honoured to be a part of it all.”
Outside of work, Benoit enjoys the outdoors and frequently jogs, swims and hikes. He is also very interested in his family history and studies archives, very old books, manuscripts and even deciphers old handwriting in his quest to determine his origins. And yes, he also likes wine with one of his favourites the noble late harvest from Château d’Yquem.